by Debbie Hall
Joyce Leveston brings a depth of operational expertise and global perspective to her new role as the president and CEO of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center (Javits Center) with more than three decades of experience in the convention center and venue management sector. Javits Center is a six-block venue on Manhattan’s West Side, right by New York City’s most up-and-coming neighborhood, Hudson Yards. As a model of reinvention, the center is a sustainability leader with a living green roof and urban wildlife habitat, as well as a national space where business, culture, and ideas intersect.
Making It A Career
Leveston has defined her career by her mastery of facility operations, event logistics and large-scale venue execution. These disciplines remain the core of today’s increasingly complex exhibition and live event environments. Her extensive experience ensures strategic leadership to bring reliable, innovative event solutions.
Her professional résumé, including her role as a former senior vice president at Oak View Group, reflects a rare breadth of experience across some of the world’s most high-profile and logistically demanding events. Leveston’s precision planning and public-facing impact include the Big Games, NBA and MLB All-Star Weekends and Presidential Inaugurations. The Nuclear Security Summit for President Obama, the International AIDS Conference, and the White House State of Women are also part of her extensive résumé. Her recent appointment to the board of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI) highlights her international influence and her role in shaping the industry’s future worldwide.
Day By Day
As Leveston admits, there really is no typical day. “I meet with my chief of staff daily to make sure we are aligned with the vision and mission of Javits. I’m updated and briefed on any new affairs across the organization, from operations to administration. I have weekly and bi-weekly meetings with my direct reports, along with a bi-weekly executive leadership luncheon where we discuss more long-range projects.
“Whenever possible, I like to review any opportunities to meet and greet clients for site visits or customers setting up for a show. On any given morning or afternoon, Javits staff might encounter me walking the halls or in the back of house, visiting with our team and ensuring they have access to their leadership. People will always be my priority, so I make sure I’m connected to the staff, seeing and hearing firsthand how we are accomplishing great things at Javits Center, allowing our team to shine.”
Commitment to People
Being CEO is more than just a title for Leveston; it’s about ensuring that everyone in the company feels valued and connected. She believes that engaging directly with staff fosters respect and reassurance. “I take time to have individual conversations, both in the office and on the floor, so that we can build connections and community. My goal is to listen so I can support the team. Depending on the day or the week, you might find me wandering the lobbies, taking photos of the doors and elevators, or looking for gaps and things we might have missed.
“I live close, so the team can find me in the mornings around 10 a.m. as they prepare to receive our guests. But often it happens between 7 p.m. and midnight, when people expect me to be gone for the day. It all depends on my schedule. I want to create an environment where everyone feels empowered and engaged, and that starts by making sure they feel heard and seen.”
Her leadership style is people-focused and collaborative, with open communication to build trust and inspire confidence. She encourages her team to share ideas and feel empowered to make decisions, fostering a supportive environment where everyone can contribute meaningfully. While Leveston is the decision maker, input from her team is integral to the process. “As a leader, this is probably the thing I have learned to embrace the most. I believe in providing opportunities for ambition to flourish. After 30 years in venue and convention management, I don’t proclaim to know everything.”
Future Opprotunitites
As for another new role, serving on the board of directors for UFI aligns with her vision of positioning Javits and New York City as the global hub for international B2B events. “This opportunity allows me to be in a room of my peers that respect North America as a true provider of innovation for exhibition venues and a place where exchange happens on an international scale in our industry. I’m proud to make an impact, both for Javits Center and for my personal legacy. My goal is to make Javits Center the place where stakeholders and world leaders gather, where history is made, and where the future of exhibitions lives. There is no place like New York, and I want to make sure that it is synonymous with Javits Center. That begins
by getting out there and spreading the gospel about Javits Center.”
For more info, visit javitscenter.com.
